S
seeker63
Guest
Tonight was the orientation meeting for RCIA at my Church. It was great, fun, moving, informative, and surpassing even my very high expectations.
I had some errands to run this afternoon and decided to just stay in the neighborhood of my Church and wait until the meeting started. I’d learned my Church has expanded its hours for Eucharistic Adoration. Since I’ve been praying for the grace to actually, finally believe in the Real Presence (Yes, I know all the explanations why—I’m just praying for genuine belief to come.), I thought it’d be a idea to spend my time waiting for the meeting to start in the Adoration Chapel. I’d printed up all sorts of online articles about what to do and pray about, and filled my briefcase with prayer books, “The Imitation of Christ,” printouts of the Church’s Scripture readings for the last few days—even my old Confraternity Bible!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get there until about 5:45 and Adoration was only supposed to run to 6:30, but I figured 45 minutes was better than nothing, right? As I approached the door to the Chapel I began to feel—not dread—but at least a heightened state of troubled awe.
There were only two other people in the Chapel: a young woman who was reading, and a young man who was prostrate on the floor. I took a seat and began reading from “The Imitation.” The words I was reading seemed to be taking on an extra meaning. I was having to read them very slowly. I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but I sensed I was about to have a break-through. I was in mid-prayer. Then…
BAH-RAH-TAH-TAH-TAH!!! BAH-YAH-TAH-TAH!!!
It was some teenager in the Sanctuary, rehearsing on his cornet. Apparently there was some sort of Life Teen musical rehearsal and this kid decided to warm up early.
Well, so much for any break-throughs.
The guy on the floor, got up, went to a kneeler, and began praying out loud. The young woman knew the prayer and prayed aloud with him. I didn’t know it, so I mostly muttered.It turns out this guy was some sort of lay leader or deacon – or at any rate had charge of the Chapel right then. Looked like Adoration would have to shut down 30 minutes early.
When he finished praying he turned to me and asked if I’d assist him. Feeling stunned, honored, and unworthy, I stood up, and he handed me a thick altar candle, then gave the other to the young woman. He then removed the Host from the monstrance, wrapping it in a cloth, and the woman led us in a procession into the Sanctuary. I had to follow her to try to figure out where to stand or move or kneel up at the altar. The host was put into the Tabernacle with due reverence (notwithstanding the continuing cornet playing), and I was led to the sacristy to put up the candle, though not before I tripped on a step on the altar.
This is the second time in two months I’ve been recruited to help perform some task up at a Church’s altar, where I felt honored and unworthy and almost as if I’ve by dumb luck been selected for a privilege a non-Catholic doesn’t deserve.
I had some errands to run this afternoon and decided to just stay in the neighborhood of my Church and wait until the meeting started. I’d learned my Church has expanded its hours for Eucharistic Adoration. Since I’ve been praying for the grace to actually, finally believe in the Real Presence (Yes, I know all the explanations why—I’m just praying for genuine belief to come.), I thought it’d be a idea to spend my time waiting for the meeting to start in the Adoration Chapel. I’d printed up all sorts of online articles about what to do and pray about, and filled my briefcase with prayer books, “The Imitation of Christ,” printouts of the Church’s Scripture readings for the last few days—even my old Confraternity Bible!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get there until about 5:45 and Adoration was only supposed to run to 6:30, but I figured 45 minutes was better than nothing, right? As I approached the door to the Chapel I began to feel—not dread—but at least a heightened state of troubled awe.
There were only two other people in the Chapel: a young woman who was reading, and a young man who was prostrate on the floor. I took a seat and began reading from “The Imitation.” The words I was reading seemed to be taking on an extra meaning. I was having to read them very slowly. I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but I sensed I was about to have a break-through. I was in mid-prayer. Then…
BAH-RAH-TAH-TAH-TAH!!! BAH-YAH-TAH-TAH!!!
It was some teenager in the Sanctuary, rehearsing on his cornet. Apparently there was some sort of Life Teen musical rehearsal and this kid decided to warm up early.
Well, so much for any break-throughs.
The guy on the floor, got up, went to a kneeler, and began praying out loud. The young woman knew the prayer and prayed aloud with him. I didn’t know it, so I mostly muttered.It turns out this guy was some sort of lay leader or deacon – or at any rate had charge of the Chapel right then. Looked like Adoration would have to shut down 30 minutes early.
When he finished praying he turned to me and asked if I’d assist him. Feeling stunned, honored, and unworthy, I stood up, and he handed me a thick altar candle, then gave the other to the young woman. He then removed the Host from the monstrance, wrapping it in a cloth, and the woman led us in a procession into the Sanctuary. I had to follow her to try to figure out where to stand or move or kneel up at the altar. The host was put into the Tabernacle with due reverence (notwithstanding the continuing cornet playing), and I was led to the sacristy to put up the candle, though not before I tripped on a step on the altar.
This is the second time in two months I’ve been recruited to help perform some task up at a Church’s altar, where I felt honored and unworthy and almost as if I’ve by dumb luck been selected for a privilege a non-Catholic doesn’t deserve.